On the ice, Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis pair to form one of the top duos in the National Hockey League. There is a link between the players, an innate ability that shows up at opportune times.

The results can be electric.

It's a big reason both will represent the Lightning at this afternoon's All-Star Game at RBC Center, home of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Stamkos, who tied for the goal scoring lead last season with 51, leads this season with 38 — six more than any other player — and has a one-point lead in the scoring race with 67 points. St. Louis, meanwhile, ranks second in the league with 40 assists and fifth in scoring with 60 points.

On the ice, St. Louis and Stamkos are peers, explosive and skilled athletes capable of bringing defenders to their knees and fans to their feet. With a combined 127 points, they rank as the highest scoring teammates in the league with two points more than the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik in Vancouver.

Tampa Bay's top scoring duo puts up some lofty numbers. The numbers on their respective birth certificates, however, suggest Tampa Bay's top two top offensive threats come from different generations.

Before Stamkos was kindergarten age, St. Louis was into the second year of a remarkable career at the University of Vermont. When St. Louis reached the NHL, Stamkos sat inside an elementary school classroom daydreaming of NHL All-Stars such as Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemieux, or hometown Toronto Maple Leafs heroes such as Mats Sundin, Curtis Joseph or Steve Thomas.